Handel: Alcina (1735)

8. Handel: Alcina (1735)

Handel found Ariosto's deceitful sorceress Alcina such a dramatic challenge that he named a whole opera after her. After its premiere in 1735, it fell into obscurity until the 20th century. Joan Sutherland (pictured) sang the role in a production by Franco Zeffirelli in which she made her debut at La Fenice, Venice, in February 1960.